12 July - 5 August 2011
On the 12th July, 14 pupils and 2 staff member set off on a 25-day expedition to Turkey, looking forward to a varied and ultimately memorable experience.
On arrival in Istanbul airport, our Dutch guide, Maurits Van Den Bosch Kaag, greeted us with a big smile and we immediately set off into the busy streets of one of Europe’s most populous cities.
The two days we spent in Istanbul was a great way to start the trip, taking in a boat trip on the Bosphorous, the Hagia Sophia Church and the many Bazaars in this old city.
From Istanbul, we took the night train to Ankara and followed the story of Ataturk, visiting the mausoleum and discovering the events behind the formation of the Turkish Republic.
From Ankara we travelled via the underground city of Derinkuyu, to the incredible landscape of Cappadocia. This really felt like a landscape that didn’t belong on this planet and the fairy chimneys not only provided spectacular scenery, but the Troglodyte caves gave the lads endless climbing opportunities.
Our next stop was Marti village, in the foothills of the Aladagar mountain range. This was to be our base for the next seven nights, as the team set about work on the village school. After a productive team meeting that evening, work commenced on the school with a vast amount of energy. The backdrop of the snow capped mountains and the cool air, meant work continued at a pace for 5 days straight. The result was a smartly refurbished school, a new football pitch, perfectly manicured grounds, a top of the range toilet block and five benches, reflecting the finest English craftsmanship.
The local teacher was delighted with the outstanding work and our leader for the day presented him with stationary for all the pupils and a number of gifts that the team had brought over.
After completion of the project, the team packed in preparation for a five-day trek in the mountains, culminating in a 3723m summit. We encountered nomadic families, scree slope descents, near misses with falling rocks, but everyone completed the ascent on Day 4. The trek culminated in a camp fire and sing along, to which we invited another two groups camping in the local vicinity. Jack Williams led the signing, with Ed McLaughlin and James Crowe providing volume and energy. Our guests greatly enjoyed the evening, until ‘the worm’ dance drove them away.
From the mountains we transferred south to the coast and the real holiday began. We started off with a day rafting in the Koprulu Canyon, before moving down the coast to Kas for some sea kayaking, snorkelling and mountain biking. This was a great way to finish off the trip and provided a number of memorable moments.
The attitude of every member of the team made sure that the whole adventure was such a success and they can all be very proud of what they achieved.
Very many thanks to Nick Stokes, for his organisation of the trip. He put in a great deal of work in getting everything up and running and ensured that every detail of the trip went smoothly.
Thanks also to the staff accompanying the trip, Mr McGill and Dr Meier (Epsom College). They both brought with them a wealth of relevant historical information on the area and a real sense of adventure.
And lastly, thanks to our guide, Maurits Van Den Bosch Kaag from Demavend Travel. He was incredible in every aspect and made the trip such a great success.
Steve Brenchley
